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Cell service to iPad

I own an iPhone, do I need to have 2 separate lines to add cell service for an iPad?

Posted on Sep 11, 2022 5:42 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 11, 2022 5:52 PM

Depends one exactly what you want to accomplish.


You can share the iPhone’s cellular internet connection with the iPad over Personal Hotspot, and you can make cellular based calls and send SMS messages through the iPhone’s service using Continuity:

Link-> Use Instant Hotspot to connect to your Personal Hotspot without entering a password - Apple Support

Link-> Make and receive calls on your Mac, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Link-> How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac - Apple Support

or you can get the iPad its own service plan for internet access only.

Link-> Set up cellular data service on your Wi-Fi + Cellular model iPad - Apple Support





2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 11, 2022 5:52 PM in response to Vesti1

Depends one exactly what you want to accomplish.


You can share the iPhone’s cellular internet connection with the iPad over Personal Hotspot, and you can make cellular based calls and send SMS messages through the iPhone’s service using Continuity:

Link-> Use Instant Hotspot to connect to your Personal Hotspot without entering a password - Apple Support

Link-> Make and receive calls on your Mac, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Link-> How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac - Apple Support

or you can get the iPad its own service plan for internet access only.

Link-> Set up cellular data service on your Wi-Fi + Cellular model iPad - Apple Support





Sep 15, 2022 10:20 AM in response to Vesti1

If you have added a DataSIM and Cellular plan to a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad, the number associated with the SIM card is only used to identify your account for billing purposes. This number is not used for making calls or sending messages.


An iPad, whether a Cellular model or not, is not capable of directly accessing Cellular Voice or Messaging features. An iPad with Cellular connectivity alone can only access IP-data services. An iPad is not, and can never be, a standalone substitute for an iPhone. 


However, If paired with an iPhone, the capabilities of iPad significantly broaden to include access to Cellular Voice and Messaging services of the associated iPhone - relayed to the iPad over WiFi using Apple’s continuity features. For the most part, an iPad using Continuity is able to access Cellular calling features, of the iPhone, when both the iPad an iPhone are in close physical proximity and are connected to the same WiFi network - but this is not the end of the story.


Now, if your both your Cellular Carrier and your calling plan support WiFi Calling, your iPad can make and receive calls independently of the iPhone - even when the iPhone is switched off, elsewhere, or using a different WiFi network. Not all carriers support full WiFi calling.


More information about Continuity and the relevant Cellular services can be found here:


Continuity

Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch – Apple Support


SMS/MMS Messaging

How to forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your iPad, iPod touch or Mac - Apple Support


WiFi Calling

Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling – Apple Support


When correctly configured, the iPad FaceTime App provides access to Cellular Voice Calling features - whilst Messages supports SMS/MMS messaging services.


So, in conclusion, if your own Cellular Carrier and tariff support WiFi Calling, it is theoretically possible to configure WiFi Calling service for your iPad. After WiFi Calling is enabled and configured, your iPad can continue to make and receive cellular calls independently of your iPhone whilst connected to a WiFi network.


I hope this information and clarification is helpful in understanding the capabilities of both your iPad - and if you have one, your iPhone.

Cell service to iPad

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